CONTROLS Synonyms: 196 Similar and Opposite Words

controls 1 of 2

noun

plural of control

as in controllers

a mechanism for adjusting the operation of a device, machine, or system the controls for the player are well marked

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as in hands

the ability to direct the course of something after the tail fell off, the plane went out of the pilot's control firefighters keeping control of the blaze

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in operations

the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something control of manufacturing operations was given to a new manager with fresh ideas

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as in powers

the right or means to command or control others teachers are responsible for the students under their control

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controls

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of control

as in regulates

to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) you must learn to control your temper

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as in contains

to gain emotional or mental control of he controlled himself only with the greatest difficulty in the face of his opponent's insulting remarks

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as in rules

to exercise authority or power over circumstances often control the choices we make in life

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as in operates

to look after and make decisions about during the period that she controlled the company it was highly profitable

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of controls

Noun

The wonky physics can't be too wonky, because janky controls can go from amusing to annoying pretty quickly. — Jason Bennett, Arkansas Online, 19 July 2026 Missiles have been fired from drones before, but those were remote-piloted aircraft with a human operating the flight controls from the ground. — David Szondy july 18, New Atlas, 19 July 2026 While Rivian's earlier R1S and R1T models featured minimal buttons, the company sought a middle ground without fully reverting to traditional controls. — Greg Migliore, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 Reduce smoking through measures such as tobacco price controls, raising the minimum age of purchase, and smoke-free policies. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026 Work begins on JetZero’s first demonstrator This aircraft is intended to prove JetZero’s calculations on aerodynamics, structures, manufacturing, and flight controls. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026 Beijing maintains strict controls over religion, which has led to the rise of underground churches. — J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 5 July 2026 This plan covers up to nine devices and combines ad blocking, privacy protection, malware filtering, and parental controls into a single package. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 3 July 2026 It was not immediately known what caused the crash in a city with strict airspace controls, including a recent ban on drones. — ABC News, 27 June 2026

Verb

Ella Langley controls three of the top four spots on the Billboard Hot 100 this week, joining Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter as the only female artists to manage the feat. — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 And Hamas—which ended the war with about twenty thousand fighters, some recruited and trained during the war—controls the remainder of Gaza. — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 She was left with acute damage to the area of her brain that controls speech. — Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026 Nvidia controls more than 95% of the data center GPU market, according to the Futurum Group. — Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 20 July 2026 As for possible problems; a common Jeep issue is the smart fuse box—TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module)—which controls many aspects of the electrical system, including when various modules shut down after the key is turned off. — John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs and Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026 Amarildo instantly controls a quick throw-in, skips away from one Czech defender, hoodwinks another with a hip-swerve and, spotting keeper Schrojf off his line, fires the ball in at the near post. — Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026 Unlike conventional infrared systems that rely on bulky mechanical components to change focus, the new design controls light electronically at the level of individual microscopic pixels. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026 Government departments and businesses can keep using Amazon or Microsoft cloud infrastructure—but Valarian’s layer controls exactly what data leaves, who touches it, and when. — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 13 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for controls

Noun

Flight controllers had to overcome initial communication and pointing problems with Link, beaming up software patches.

— Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 22 July 2026
This allows controllers to differentiate and prioritize planes in distress on radar screens.

— Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2026

Definition of controllers

Noun

McNeeley had the ball in his hands a lot, and that was by design.

— Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
And in the coming years, humanoid robots with dexterous hands will automate the other parts of lab work, such as handling mice, or slicing thin layers of tissue.

— Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of hands

Noun

Allen, who has been tracking the conflict, told CNN that drones are now used to monitor enemy movements, support ground operations, strike supply lines and attack infrastructure.

— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Hiring Epstein as president of baseball operations after the 2011 season led to sweeping changes.

— Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 19 July 2026

Definition of operations

Noun

These muni bonds need to be bought, so the powers-that-be will make phone calls to their contacts in Bondland to buy up these 6% coupons.

— Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
In recent years, the exercise has grown to include scenarios that focus on competition with other major military powers.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 23 July 2026

Definition of powers

Verb

Kalshi agrees with the federal government that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission — which regulates swaps and derivatives — has the sole power to regulate prediction markets.

— Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 19 July 2026
Asked for help Just four arson and bomb investigators work for the state fire marshal, the division that regulates fireworks.

— Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of regulates

Verb

The language of the ethics rules bans public officials from using their name, image, likeness or official position for digital assets.

— Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
The avenue lies within the city’s original historic district, where preservation rules tightly regulate new construction and alterations.

— Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026

Definition of rules

Verb

Xaver Schlager knows how Glasner operates, having played under him for two years at Wolfsburg.

— Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 21 July 2026
With a fleet of more than 80 aircraft, PAL operates across the Philippines and 40 international destinations in Asia, North America, Australia and the Middle East.

— Ian Sayson, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026